Modernization of the Purchase College Microbiology Curriculum

这个项目的概念源于微生物学课程的需要。我们将在我们的微生物学实验室增加4个新的练习，重点介绍在过去15年中现代微生物学实验室常用的分子技术所取得的重大进展。这些新练习的目的是演示目前在现代分子微生物学实验室中使用的常用技术：(1)荧光显微镜，使用荧光染料标记的寡核苷酸探针的抗体来鉴定细菌，(2)蛋白质和核酸的电泳，(3)蛋白质鉴定的蛋白质免疫印迹，(4)用于快速鉴定特定抗原的ELISA法，以及(5)用于扩增各种鉴定目的DNA的聚合酶链式反应。该实验室模型将基于PI使用分子微生物学的广泛研究经验，用于诊断挑剔、生长缓慢的鱼类病原体--沙门氏雷尼杆菌。这种病原体非常适合在本科微生物学实验室使用，因为它是一种严格的嗜冷者，对人类没有致病性。随着微生物学实验室的现代化，我们也有机会更新我们的细胞和分子技术课程。将在现有的一系列克隆程序中引入一项新的练习。特别是，我们计划在现有的一系列DNA练习的背景下向学生介绍PCR扩增。购买学院的本科生被要求做一个两学期的高级研究项目。可供学生参与的研究项目的范围和概念的复杂性也将大大提高。我们的几个教员已经提议在为本科生参与而设计的新的和正在进行的项目中使用新设备。该项目将加强学生的概念和技术培训。在现代分子微生物学、细胞生物学和分子生物学中，将直接与常用技术相结合，将极大地改善我们的学生为研究生课程和/或进入高技术、生物技术工作队伍所做的准备。*

The concept of this project grows out of curricular needs in Microbiology. We will add 4 new exercises to our Microbiology laboratory which will focus on the major advances that have occurred in molecular techniques commonly used in modern Microbiology laboratories during the past 15 years. The purpose of these new exercises is to demonstrate the common techniques that are now used in modern molecular Microbiology laboratories: (1) fluorescence microscopy for identification of bacteria using either antibody of oligonucleotide probes labeled with fluorescent dyes, (2) electrophoresis of proteins and nucleic acids, (3) Western immunoblotting for protein identification, (4) ELISA for quick identification screening of specific antigens and (5) PCR for amplification of DNA for various identification purposes. The laboratory model which will be used based upon the PI's extensive research experience using molecular Microbiology for the diagnosis of the fastidious, slow growing fish pathogen, Renibacterium salmoninarum. This pathogen is excellent for use in the undergraduate Microbiology laboratory because it is a strict psychrophile, and is nonpathogenic to humans. With the modernization of the Microbiology laboratory, we also have the opportunity to update our Cellular and Molecular Techniques course. A new exercise will be introduced to the existing series of cloning procedures. In particular, we plan to introduce students to PCR amplification in the context of the existing series of DNA exercises. Purchase College undergraduates are required to do a two semester Senior Research Project. The scope and conceptual sophistication of research projects available for student participation will also be considerably enhanced. Several of our faculty have proposed use of the new equipment in new and ongoing projects designed for undergraduate student participation. This project will enhance the conceptual as well as the technical training of students. The use of direct f amiliarity with common techniques in modern Molecular Microbiology, Cell Biology, and Molecular Biology will greatly improve our student's preparedness for graduate programs, and/or for entering a highly technical, biotechnology workforce. *